I’M NOT SCARED: Records mean nothing at Beijing worlds, says Yego

Commonwealth Games javelin champion Julius Yego said his world lead throw of 91.39 metres and other records his rivals hold will mean nothing when they meet at the Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing.

Yego, 26, will be making his second show at the World Championships, which starts on August 22-30, after his debut in Moscow two years ago and believes he is no longer the naive athlete he was in the Russian capital back in 2013.

Yego said, at the moment, about six top javelin throwers have maintained their performance and anyone, depending on the form of the day, can win the title in Beijing.

“I have made a lot of improvement since Moscow 2013. I made a national record throwing 85.40 metres then and I have improved on the same time and again. But as we head to the world championships, I know my competitors will be keen to win and so will I and that promises fireworks.

“I have competed in Beijing Grand Prix twice and I hope to be third time lucky when I return there for the World Championships,” he said.

Indeed Yego, who threw a world lead of 91:39 metres at the Birmingham Diamond League back on June 7, has pointed out the top six athletes that have an edge at the World Championships being Olympic Champion Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago (90.16), World champion Vítezslav Veselý of Czech Republic (88.18), silver medallist Tero Pitkamaki from Finland (89.09), Ari Mannio (Finland 86.82) and Antti Ruuskanen (Finland 86.61).

 USING YOUTUBE TIPS

Yego, who is still using YouTube for tips on how best to improve his throw said, he will not be shifting his training camp to Scandinavian countries because he feels he is free and at peace training at home.

“I will not travel to Europe,” he said. “Here in Nairobi I am at peace and plans well for my training, but in Europe it is not easy and the diet and weather are not always conducive for my preparations. So will be training here with my Kenyan coach and of course referring to the YouTube for more skills.”

However, the African Games champion want Athletics Kenya to do more to improve field events in the country saying there are three of four athletes who are making great effort and they need more exposure to hit the targets and qualifying times for major championships.

“At the moment I’m all alone,” he added. “But I feel we need to give more slots to these group of athletes who are emerging from the grassroots. They need to go out and feel the caliber of competition and learn more so that they can be inspired and work harder,” he concluded.

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